By Patrick Mooney
Lockport scouted Benet during Saturday's regional final, and the report noted how Benet ace Bryan Roberts repeatedly got Wheaton Warrenville South hitters to chase the high fastball on the way to 14 strikeouts.
The Porters also recently changed their batting practice routine, catcher Joe Martin said, with the pitcher throwing from about 15 feet away, in order to simulate the speed of a Roberts and force the hands to move quicker through the zone.
"We knew Roberts was gonna be a quality guy and we knew that if we were gonna chase a lot of his high fastballs, we weren't gonna be very successful," Lockport coach Steve Stanicek said after Thursday's 4-2 win. "I thought we had a great approach at the plate. We didn't chase a lot of things up. We made him bring the ball down (and) he's a little easier to hit (when) the ball's down."
Lockport's adjustments also included bringing in Steve Sabatino for his first pitching appearance of the season. The Notre Dame recruit, who was reportedly limited with shoulder soreness, began throwing on the side about two weeks ago and struck out the side in the seventh to earn the save.
"(Roberts) gets ahead and then he just starts climbing the ladder...kind of what Sabatino did that last inning," Stanicek said. "When guys are throwin like' that, it's very difficult (to) get on top of a fastball like that, when it's up at the chest. It looks so good."
Stanicek watched Neuqua on Wednesday and assumes Geoff Rowan will get the starting assignment. "He's very similar to Roberts," Stanicek said. "I think our hitting philosophy is not gonna change very much."
Benet coach Jeff Bonebrake cited Sabatino's presence as a potential factor in the sectional final. The senior could be available, depending on how he feels after his first appearance.
"The whole year, everybody's been sayin, you know, Lockport's gonna be good once (Sabatino) comes back and now he's finally back, and here we are," Martin said.
Rowan will make the start -- his eighth of the year -- against Lockport. In 35.1 innings of work this season, Rowan's allowed only three earned runs. That's a 0.60 ERA, Neuqua's best.
As far as scouting goes, Rowan has definitely noticed Lockport's coaches throughout the playoffs. There shouldn't be too many mysteries about the defending large-school state champions come Saturday.
Sun staff writer Brad Engel contributed to this report.
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